Forensic Medicine - The hand the criminals dread

Table of Contents

FOREWORD

DOWN THE MEMORY LANE

AN INTRODUCTION - DR. VASUDHA APTE

CHAPTER 1 - FORENSIC MEDICAL SCIENCE

CHAPTER 2 - GUESS WHO

CHAPTER 3 - RECOGNITION

CHAPTER 4 - SHE OR HE?

CHAPTER 5 - BONES' WHICH SPEAK

CHAPTER 6 - THE AGE OF THE UTERUS

CHAPTER 7 - SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AGE OF THE CHILDREN

CHAPTER 8: VISHI BATISHI (FROM TWENTY TO A SET OF THIRTY- TWO)

CHAPTER 9 - HEIGHT & SCARS

CHAPTER 10 - IMPORTANCE OF AGE

CHAPTER 11: PHYSICAL CHANGE & AGE

CHAPTER 12 - OTHER BODY CHANGES

CHAPTER 13 – HAIR

CHAPTER 14 - SCARS – DEFECTS - BODY MARKS CAUSED BY OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

CHAPTER 15 FINGER PRINTS

CHAPTER 16 – FOOTPRINTS

CHAPTER 17 BLOOD GROUP

CHAPTER 18 BODY INJURIES

CHAPTER 19 – ABRASIONS

CHAPTER 20 - BLOOD ACCUMULATION

CHAPTER 21 – LACERATION

CHAPTER 22 - A DAGGER THROUGH THE HEART

CHAPTER 23 - CUT INJURIES

CHAPTER 24 - INJURIES CAUSING DEATH

CHAPTER 25 - SCALDING

CHAPTER 26 – BURNS

CHAPTER 27 (1) - GUNS, BULLETS, INJURIES

CHAPTER 27 (2) - GUNS BULLETS INJURIES

CHAPTER 28 - BULLET INJURIES (A FORENSIC VIEW POINT)

CHAPTER 29 - INJURIES (A Forensic Medicine View Point)

CHAPTER 30 - INJURIES CAUSED BY ELECTRIC SHOCK TRAUMA

CHAPTER 31 - THE LIGHTENING MEETS THE EARTH

CHAPTER 32 - INJURIES CAUSED BY VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

CHAPTER 33 - SALVATION THROUGH SKULL BURST

CHAPTER 34 - BRAIN INJURIES

CHAPTER 35 - CUT THROAT

CHAPTER 36 - INJURIES TO THE CHEST

CHAPTER 37 - INJURIES OF THE STOMACH

CHAPTER 38 - BLASTS

CHAPTER 39 - INJURIES OF THE HANDS AND FEET

CHAPTER 40 - TOWARDS DEATH

CHAPTER 41 - BRAIN DEATH

CHAPTER 42 (1) - DEATH PANGS

CHAPTER 42 (2) - DEATH PANGS

CHAPTER 42 (3) - DEATH PANGS

CHAPTER 42 (4) - DEATH PANGS

CHAPTER 42 (5) - DEATH PANGS

CHAPTER 42 (6) - DEATH PANGS

CHAPTER 43 (1) – Strangulation

CHAPTER 43 (2) – STRANGULATION

CHAPTER 43 (3) - STRANGULATION

CHAPTER 43 (4) - STRANGULATION

CHAPTER 43 (5) - STRANGULATION

CHAPTER 43 (6) - STRANGULATION

CHAPTER 44 - DEATH BY DROWNING

CHAPTER 45 - DEATH BY HEAT STROKE

CHAPTER 46 - COLD WAVE

CHAPTER 47 - HUNGER STARVATION

CHAPTER 48 - POST MORTEM

CHAPTER 49 (1) - FORENSIC POST MORTEM

CHAPTER 49 (2) - FORENSIC POST MORTEM

CHAPTER 49 (3) - FORENSIC POST MORTEM

CHAPTER 49 (4) - FORENSIC POST MORTEM

CHAPTER 49 (5) - FORENSIC POST MORTEM

CHAPTER 49 (6) - FORENSIC POST MORTEM

CHAPTER 49 (7) - FORENSIC POST MORTEM

CHAPTER 50 (1) – RAPE

CHAPTER 50 (2) - RAPE

CHAPTER 50 (3) - RAPE

CHAPTER 51 - CHILD ABUSE (HARASSMENT)

CHAPTER 52 - CHILD SEX ABUSE MISBEHAVIOUR

CHAPTER 53 - WOMEN AND FAMILY TORTURE

CHAPTER 54 - DOWRY DEATHS

CHAPTER 55 - RAPE AND PUNISHMENT

CHAPTER 56 (1) - DETERMINATION OF PREGNANCY

CHAPTER 56 (2) - DETERMINATION OF PREGNANCY

CHAPTER 57 - ABORTION

CHAPTER 58 (1) – INFANTICIDE

CHAPTER 58 (2) - INFANTICIDE

CHAPTER 58 (3) – INFANTICIDE

CHAPTER 59 (1) - POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (2) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (3) - POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (4) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (5) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (6) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (7) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (8) - POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (9) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (10) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (11) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (12) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (13) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (14) - POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (15) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (16) - POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (17) – POISONING

CHAPTER 59 ( 18 ) - POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (19) - POISONING

CHAPTER 59 (20) – POISONING

CHAPTER 60 - DO NOT BELITTLE A SNAKE

CHAPTER 61 - GETTING TO KNOW SNAKES

CHAPTER 62 - SNAKE BITE

CHAPTER 63 - AFTER THE SNAKEBITE

CHAPTER 64 - OPIUM

CHAPTER 65 - OPIUM ADDICTION

CHAPTER 66 - SUBSTANCES FROM OPIUM

CHAPTER 67 (1) - ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES

CHAPTER 67 (2) - ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES

CHAPTER 67 (3) - ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES

CHAPTER 67 ( 4 ) - ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES

CHAPTER 68 - POISONING : STRYCHNINE

CHAPTER 69 - POISONING : AGRICULTURAL POISONS

CHAPTER 70 - POISONING : BREATH OBSTRUCTION

CHAPTER 71 - POISONING : CARBON MONOXIDE

CHAPTER 72 - POISONING: CHEMICALS THAT CAUSE INTENSE AGONY

CHAPTER 73 - POISONING : CAUSED BY HOMELY ONIONS AND CHILLIES

CHAPTER 74 - INDUSTRIAL POISONING

CHAPTER 75 ( 1 ) - LONG STANDING POISONING : POISONOUS SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE ABSORBED IN THE BODY

CHAPTER 75 (2) - CHRONIC POISONING : POISONOUS SUBSTANCES ABSORBED IN THE BODY

CHAPTER 76 - FORENSIC SCIENTIFIC LABORATORY

CHAPTER 77 - DNA

CHAPTER 78 - BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY

CHAPTER 79 – CLONING

CHAPTER 80 - AIDED PREGNANCY

CHAPTER 81 - PREGNANCY BY CONTRACT (SURROGACY )

CHAPTER 82 - A DEEP LONGING FOR SON

CHAPTER 83 - Dilemmas in ending Pregnancies

CHAPTER 84 - DECISION TO DIE

CHAPTER 85 - H.I.V.

CHAPTER 86 - ALVIDA (GOOD BYE)

Print edition : 26th Jun 2017

Digital edition: 16th July 2019

Author : Dr. Vasudha Apte

Publishers :Lotus Publications Private Ltd., 701, Link Apartment, Old Khari Village, Old Khar (W), Mumbai-400052. Maharashtra. India

Copyright –  © 2017. All rights of  publication reserved with the publishers.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without the written permission of the Publishers. Breach of this condition is liable for legal action. Application for permission to use the copyright material or any part thereof including permission to reproduce extracts in other published works, shall be made to the Publishers. Full acknowledgment of the author, the Publishers and the source is required to be submitted.

ISBN NO: 978-81-934080-6-3

FOREWORD

TO FORENSIC MEDICINE SCIENCE

Common man, although extremely curious to know about the science of 'Forensic Medicine', has limited access to information. Police Officers, due to the nature of their work in criminal investigations, have some information and awareness. Also, the various experts in the medical profession, keep themselves informed about the happenings in their various fields. However, a somewhat tricky job to investigate a crime, and to correctly spot a criminal, and help the court to punish him without any doubt about his involvement in the crime can be done only by the experts from the field of forensic medical science.

Dr.Vasudha Apte is a Professor and an expert in the forensic medical field. Many sticky and complex cases have been resolved successfully by the Court with her help when she worked at the Nair Hospital in Mumbai. This knowledge which she imparted to her students, or used it to give evidence in the Court is now being made available to all, simply and lucidly, in Marathi, in the Daily Pratyaksha, in the form of short essays. There may be many books available on the subject in the English language, but I think this is the first book of its kind in Marathi.

Though the book has been written for everyone in general and has a repository of knowledge, it would be advisable that the police officials and other police staff use it to mitigate any flaws in their investigations. About 130 varied subjects are discussed in detail, weighing pros and cons, along with their scientific basis, and placed before the reader in a very appealing way. Quite often, a person is named in a crime based on information given by another person. In some of these cases, the accused could even get convicted and punished too. However, with the availability of fresh evidence collected later, the person is proved to be 'innocent'. Unfortunately, till proven innocent, this person is wrongly required to serve a jail term for no reason, whatsoever. However, nothing is left to doubt, and there is no dispute when a criminal is convicted and punished on the basis of investigation supported by forensic medicine. The investigation of crime in a scientific manner can only be carried out using forensic medicine science. Very often, crime originating in a family could be successfully investigated and solved only through this science of forensic medicine, more so, when nobody is willing to come forward with any information about the crime and the victim is often dead. Father, mother, husband or the wife, if involved in crime, can be punished, if found guilty. I heartily congratulate Dr VasudhaApte, for making this information available to us through the medium of this book. I would expect more and more police officials, court officials, lawyers, life insurance officials, to take advantage of this book. I am confident that the general public too, would welcome this book which is on an entirely new subject.

PRAVIN DIKSHIT

RETIRED DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE

*****

DOWN THE MEMORY LANE

The story goes back to the year 2006. I had just retired, after completing 35 years of service in a Medical College, as a Professor and later as Head of Department at the Department of Forensic Medicine. This unexpected proposal to write an article once a week for the new newspaper, Daily Pratyaksha, came forth when I was wondering how I could meaningfully spend the time on my hand. I wholeheartedly accepted this proposal. This series of essays started in April 2006, and by November 15, 2008, I had completed 131 essays. All these essays published earlier are now being compiled and brought before the readers, in the form of a book.

From my interactions at different forums, and with different types of audience, one thing I firmly understood was, that most carry an impression that the Forensic Medical Experts are primarily doctors who carry out a post mortem. However, the audience was quite unaware of the fact that in the science of forensic medicine, there is a Hospital Forensic Medicine Science also, and in various cases reports have to be given after checking living people. Many were almost unaware about post-mortems, as media too, loosely described the activity as 'dissection of a dead body’. Therefore, the difference between the terms investigation of a dead body and dissection of a dead body" had to be explained to the audience. In short, the common man lacked enough understanding of forensic medicine and instead, there were more misconceptions about the subject. An attempt has been made through this book to remove these misconceptions using simple language, which would be easily understood by all.

This book should not be considered as a syllabus book for students. All the articles published in the Daily Pratyaksha, in the time frame of 2006 to 2008, are being compiled and published here exactly as they appeared in the essay series. Some changes have come up in the related laws, additional information is now available due to new research, and even investigation techniques and treatment procedures have undergone several changes, since the time these essays were published.

In the year 1970, a lady doctor choosing her career in the Forensic Medicine science field was not only a challenge, but it was somewhat outside the accepted norms. All this was possible due to a family background which was a combination of both traditional and progressive values, and rich in ideological, educative, and culturally strong value systems. Parents provided the means and strength of high values whereby I could take higher education and strengthen my wings to leap up high in the air. After marriage, while studying for M.D. and LL.B. (G), the family extended excellent support. While finding the way on this unusual road for a woman, a road full of highs and lows, and crossing the obstacles, I received valuable guidance and active support for which my mind is overwhelmed and full of gratitude to those who provided this support. My husband and my children provided constant support which I humbly want to affirm. Since death is the centre of focus while carrying out autopsies, unknowingly, I contemplated a lot about death. As such, fear of death diminished. The transient nature of life impressed upon my mind with new vigour and hence understood the greatness of life and the importance of remaining alive. I could be a part of the process, whereby I could give justice not only to living people but also to the dead. I experienced what it is 'to be present at the call of time'. A day came when 27 dead bodies had to be investigated.

Today, while looking back, one feels gratitude. I always worked with the motto My work is my Mission, my Religion. Often a timely pat on the back was just a matter of good fortune! Our (me and my husband) desire that my book be published is getting fulfilled. Many have contributed to this mission.

While winding up my thoughts, I can only express myself as below,

"With the contributions of many, a Mission is completed,

I express my Gratitude to all these!"

DR. VASUDHA VISHNU APTE

*****

AN INTRODUCTION

Dr. Vasudha Apte:

We were students of the second year of M.B.B.S. at the Nair Medical College, when Dr. Vasudha Apte came to the class as professor of Forensic medicine. Even today I remember her very first lecture. In fact, it was all owing to Dr. Apte's method of teaching that we really began to relish the subject. She was of course very proficient and well prepared but her presentation of the subject was especially skilled. Besides, her extremely straightforward and simple nature and her easy, unassuming ways made her very approachable for students who required to resolve their doubts. Formerly the head of the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of the Nair Hospital and the Topiwala Medical College affiliated to it, Dr. Apte is, at present, the chief of the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of the 'Institute of Medical Education and Research', Surat.

Having done her M.B.B.S. and then M.D., Dr. Apte chose Forensic Medicine as her field of work and in order to enhance her knowledge in the field, graduated in law.

Moreover, what is especially laudable is that she acquired the M.D. and the L.L.B. degrees after her marriage, managing well, both the household and the job. In Maharashtra, Dr. Vasudha Apte is the only lady Forensic expert with such a profound and extensive experience. Also, she was the only woman member of the panel of Deputy Coroners of Mumbai.

Due to her exceptionally successful career, she was elected President of the National Body of Medico-legal Experts. Following are five awards worthy of special mention that Dr. Apte received:

1) Woman of the year 1995

2) Woman of the decade 1999 and

3) The outstanding teacher award, as also

4) Woman of the millennium and

5) Nyaayavaidyak chikitsaa Ratna award 2001

It is extremely essential that society at large, in particular the educated, be well-informed about Forensic medicine. Science makes progress every coming day and employing it, the criminal keeps developing and refining his techniques but the fact remains that to every (supposedly) smart tactic on the criminal's part, the 'VidyaDevataa', the 'Goddess of knowledge' of the Parmeshvar does invariably have an infallible counter, an apt reply. Thus it is – Forensic Medicine : The hand the criminals dread – a series of articles authored by Dr. Vasudha Apte, who seeks such counters, such replies and delivers them.

1.FORENSIC MEDICAL SCIENCE

A USEFUL SCIENCE

The common man has very little knowledge or understanding of the word 'Forensic Medicine', and that too is through mystery serials on Television or by reading detective novels. It is only lately that we find references in the news to reports given by forensic experts regarding certain crimes. There is a lot of misunderstanding even amongst highly educated people that a 'forensic doctor' is one who conducts a post-mortem on dead bodies, while 'forensic medicine' is a science which enquires into the dead. However, it is necessary for the understanding of society at large, that it is an all-inclusive applied science which can benefit the society at large. 

There are alternate terms for 'forensic medicine' in English such as Medical Jurisprudence, Legal Medicine and State Medicine. Definition of this science in very few and precise words would be, Medical Science which is very necessary and relevant to the Legal field and for delivery of justice.

There exists confusion in the minds of many that for justice it is the law or jurisprudence that is applicable, then how medical science could be applied to the delivery of justice. When the Police are informed about a robbery in a bank or a house, police thoroughly examine the crime scene and other related objects and try to gather as many crime-related threads as possible. Similarly, when the human body itself becomes the victim of a crime, then the body has to be examined. Doctors who are forensic medical experts conduct this examination.

In order to understand the cases which come under the purview of forensic medical doctors, it is essential to understand the classification of various types of crime in legal parlance. As per this classification, Crimes relating to the human body and human life are directly connected with forensic medical science. Crimes such as illegal abortions, feticide, infanticide, sexual exploitation, rape and other sex offences, assault, kidnapping, harassment, atrocities, dowry deaths, administering poison, murder, etc. have been committed or where there are reasons to suspect that these have been committed, need to be investigated and fall under the domain of forensic medical doctors.  Just as a victim of a crime needs to be investigated, in the same way, those under suspicion or accused of rape or sex offences have also to be investigated.

It is essential for doctors working in forensic medicine to have both, knowledge and experience of this field. There are two predominant areas in which the doctors work. First, in forensic medicine in hospitals also termed 'clinical forensic medicine' and second is the investigation of bodies after death or the ' Post mortem Examination'.

Forensic Medical investigations in hospitals are conducted on those survivors, like a woman who is a victim of rape, a child who is a victim of sexual abuse, victims of kidnapping, cases of burn injuries, cases of poisoning, as also those individuals who are suspects in rape cases. Once in a while, a case comes up to determine the age of a person or to identify a victim of memory loss or those in a state of unconsciousness.

The second part of the investigation done by the forensic medicine doctors is the examination of dead bodies. It becomes legally binding to conduct a post-mortem on a dead body when the cause of death of a person is not known, or there exists a reason to believe or even a possibility that it is unnatural, accidental or occurred under suspicious circumstances.   

Forensic Medicine could be considered a unique science which comes into play when a crime is committed against a human body - to give justice to the victim of a crime or to prove charges in the court against a suspected criminal. The reason crime never pays because many puzzling questions are easily answered when investigations are conducted by experienced, knowledgeable and observant doctors in the field. 

It could be probable that various sciences have existed from ancient times in the form of a 'seed'. With the advent of human civilization, the sciences too evolved and progressed. The same is true about forensic medicine. Like many other forms of scientific knowledge, the forensic medicine field owes its rise to necessity. It is a science that combines the legal and the medical field and brings about coordination between the two. The legal aspects of the medical profession are embodied in this science. Also included in it is the science of toxicology – a science related to poisons.

It is an apt science, with the help of which a criminal can be brought to book. Conversely, it can help prove a person's innocence when he is intentionally framed in a crime. It is a body of knowledge which renders social justice. It not only serves a man in his lifetime but even after his death and hence completes its commitment towards society and therefore forensic medicine is considered very important from society viewpoint. 

Various subjects which are part of this science will be discussed in the chapters that follow.

*****

2. GUESS WHO?

Well educated, city bred people like us, begin the day with a piping hot tea in one hand and newspaper with hot and fresh news in the other. Most may only glance through the head lines due to the morning rush time. ‘35 dead by drowning as bus falls in the river. 24 bodies recovered. Attempts to identify victims on.’ ‘21 roasted alive and 10 unconscious as hotel catches fire. Only 14 identified so far. ‘News such as these we read, listen and watch. It is the Police who is in charge to identify the injured or the dead in such circumstances. It becomes easier to identify the person if there is an identification letter of an institute, a diary, an election card, a senior citizen card, a railway pass and card or any other authorized papers. At times however, when adequate papers are not available it is the forensic medical experts who come to the rescue here.

A lot of detailed investigation is required to identify a person accurately. A victim is fully identified when all the particulars about him such as his ancestry (family), religion-caste, age, gender, name, city, address, his whereabouts, profession, become available.  However,  a very sketchy and a preliminary form of information is presented when such details are not available, for example, 'A dead body of a Hindu youth, 25-30 years of age, medium built, wheat complexion, has been found at the Versova beach'.

During a powerful bomb blast, many people die at one time and at one place. Under these circumstances, the mangled human body parts are scattered here and there. The head of the dead is on one side, the torso on the other while hands and legs elsewhere; such is the condition of the dead body. Nor is there a guarantee, that the head lying near a body could belong to the body. The face which is torn is beyond recognition. Clothes too are partly or fully burnt. At times like these, the job of indentifying the body becomes challenging, difficult and extremely responsible. Each dead body is as though posing a question before you, 'Guess Who ?'.

The need to identify people becomes relevant in cases of live or dead people. A child who is unable to relate his name-address, a person with memory loss, or a person who has become disoriented or an unconscious person are people living whose identity has to be found out. Ever person has a unique personality and a special status. The sum total of his characteristics becomes his identity ( recognition ). When a person's entire identity is concerned , then besides the above facets mentioned, some other aspects have also to be considered, -- weight, height, his body form, figure, facial structure, complexion, colour of the hair and its texture, shape and the colour of his eyes, birth marks, birth defects, disabilities occurred later in life, scars, injury marks due to profession, facial description, the shape of the teeth, number of teeth and structure, marks left after dentists' treatment, finger impressions, his dress sense, ornaments and accessories on body, perfumes and scents used, makeup items, voice, handwriting, signature, photographs, x-ray reports, all become relevant. The use of technology for identification becomes necessary to find blood group, for superimposing his pictures, and to ' reconstruct of face'. His habits, his style, lefthandedness if any, special characteristics while speaking , voice, any word used repeatedly, walking style all help to identify a living person.

It is essential from the point of view of society that a person has to be identified. From the legal point of view, identification is important in civil and criminal cases. In criminal cases, the suspected criminal and people who are victims of crime have to be identified. To establish a suspect's identity, an 'identity parade' is taken and from external factors such as his face, the identity is established. Modern technology like DNA mapping is considered accurate to establish a person's identity. In many important and sensitive cases its use has been made which includes in our country.

An old case of 'Bhawal Sanyasi' has been mentioned in the forensic medicine literature, which describes the challenging task undertaken by the forensic investigations, to establish a person's identity, who had been lost and found. A prince of a State, Kumar Ramendra Narayan Roy was sick. Once, when he was in a state of unconsciousness, he was wrongly declared dead and carried to the cremation ground and kept on the funeral pyre. There was a hailstorm followed by rainfall just as the pyre was about to be lit. The people who had gathered ran away to save themselves. As the storm subsided and the rain stopped, the man on the pyre became awake and started moving. A group of sanyasis who were passing by understood what had happened and took him with them. Ramendra had suffered amnesia. He could not, therefore, identify himself and stayed with the sanyasi group as a sanyasi himself.  After exactly twelve years a sanyasi named 'Bhawal' appeared in the State and claimed one-third of the State's property for which he went to the court. His family members gave the court, about twenty identification marks on his body and other significant details, and the Court ordered the forensic investigations to be conducted to match if all the details existed on the sanyasi's body. His form, complexion, hair, the structure of the lips and ears, a broken tooth, brownish eyes, fingers of the hands, shoe measurements, besides the scars of syphilis on the body, the scars left by big boils and a mole on the penis, were found on the sanyasi's body. From all this, it was proven that the sanyasi was none other than Ramendra Narayan Roy.

*****

3. RECOGNITION

An individual gets an independent existence immediately on birth. He gets a distinct identity after being named as such and such a person. When a child starts speaking, we teach him his name, his family name and his address. As the entire process of teaching gets repeated, the child becomes like an expert parrot at repeating. There are occasions in our day to day lives when we are required to identify ourselves formally. At such times, a college identity card, an election card, a local railway pass or card, passport come handy.

We are familiar with headings like, 'Have you seen these ?', 'Search for lost people', 'Who are the guardians of these children?' These are all related to search the identity of the people. In many films we have scenes where one of the brothers gets lost in a fair or on a journey, but on account of a basil like birth mark on his body or a locket around the neck, his family is able to identify him. There are times when people are found unconscious, disoriented or just with loss of memory. Here, it becomes urgent to identify them quickly and hand them over to their relatives. This job is done by the police, but at times the help of a forensic expert becomes necessary.

Many particulars are needed to have a person's complete and accurate identification. A person’s identity, along with his name, address, etc. can be established if these particulars are available. Various characteristics to be considered during this process of identification are gender, age, religion, weight-height, figure, hair, specific identification marks such as moles, birthmarks, scars or pockmarks, or any marks caused resulting from practising a trade. When people from different countries assemble at a place, then a person's race has to be considered for identification. To determine a person's race, his skin colour, the colour and the texture of his hair, curliness of his hair, the structure and the colour of his eyes, the shape of his face, the structure of his cheekbones, the shape of his head and the measurements of the bones of his skull are considered. There are certain distinctive symbols which could help in identifying an individual's religion - caste. For example, a person with a tuft is a Hindu Brahmin. Anyone sporting a vermillion on the forehead and 'rudraksha mala' in the neck, surely belongs to Hindu religion.  It could be a Muslim if there are indications of circumcision, a slight depression (ghatta) in the centre of the forehead and hair dyed with henna. A cross around the neck or a cross tattooed on the hand is indicative of a Christian person. A person with a beard, a turban on the head, keeping a 'krupan' or a small dagger on self is a Sikh while a person with a 'sadra' under the shirt and a 'kashti' around the waist is a Parsi man.

Vermillion on the forehead, or mid-part of her head, small ring on the toes, nose pierced on the right or the left side, are indicative of a woman being a Hindu. If the middle partition in the nostrils is pierced, and there are no signs of red colour on the forehead shows to be a Muslim. In the olden times, attire was enough to guess a person's caste or religion. The length of the saree or the dhoti worn, the way it was draped, were all caste/community specific. With the coming of new generations, especially in cities, these differences do not exist. Due to fashion, Vermillion, sindoor and mangalsutra are considered insignificant. Traditional dresses are not commonly worn.   Pierced earlobes in case of women have become somewhat a common trend amongst women of all religions in the world. Earlier, a Hindu male had his ears pierced even before the naming ceremony as it was an indication of being a Hindu.

Tattoos and the art of tattooing have been in existence from ancient times. A tattooed picture, a form or a holder's name tattooed was an important source for identification. It was normal to have tattoos done on hands, on arms, on foreheads; but the forensic medicine books inform about tattoos done all over the body including genitals.

Tattoos include the name of the person, the name of his dear ones or the picture of his family deity. A person attracted to perversity has perverse forms tattooed. The letters on the tattoos indicate the person's language and his country. So also the information about his religion and caste. Tattoos do last a lifetime though they may fade slightly over time. However, tattoo marks show up clearly even on a decomposed dead body and hence the significance of tattoos.  Criminals, in order to evade recognition through tattoos, try to deform the original tattoos by superimposing additional tattoos on it; or try to destroy them by applying acid or by burning the part. However, the faded tattoo also becomes more evident with the help of the ultra-violate rays.     

On the seashores of Sydney in Australia, a shark fish was caught in a fisherman's net. The fisherman was happy at the thought of catching a big fish and proceeded to the market. He, however became aware that the fish was alive and instead took him to the nearby aquarium. The fish started moving in the water after it was left there. After a while, the shark vomited and from its mouth came a hand from arm downwards to the wrist and the palm. The chief of the aquarium handed the hand to the police. A complaint had been lodged at that time by a woman about her missing husband and that perhaps, he could be murdered. Besides other information about her husband, she made an important revelation that a picture of two wrestlers had been tattooed on the husband's hand. The hand which was found had a similar picture. The hand also brought out a similarity between the height estimated by the investigators and the dead man's actual height. In this way, a tattoo not merely revealed a person's identification but paved way for a solution of another crime.

*****

4. SHE OR HE?

A pregnant woman and the people around her are full of enthusiasm, eager to know if the baby would be a boy or a girl. On delivery the first question asked is about the gender of the new born. A gender of the person is considered important all through life, but the gender of an unborn child has significance too. Today, abortions relating to gender and the declining birth rate of a female child in society are becoming topics of discussion and also concern.

It is with natural ease and accuracy that we guess the gender of a person near us. The person's outward appearance, hair, ornaments, dress, voice are factors helping in this matter. But when this becomes impossible, then the help of forensic medicine and forensic investigators are called for to do the job. This calls for a thorough investigation of that person. His consent prior to the examination is necessary.

The physical difference in the body of a baby, boy or a girl, exists only in the genitals. These differences are not perceivable in other parts of the body. As the child begins to grow, the difference is first perceived in the hair, which of course is not natural but on account of a haircut given to the male child. There are not many differences between the boy and the girl till the actual coming of age process starts. There is a difference however in the attire.  As the coming of age process begins, the comparative measurements of weight, height, the waist, breasts, facial hair growth, i.e. the beard and the moustache, hair growth of the genital region, voice differences, and abundant hair growth are all factors to be considered. A definite conclusion can be reached only after checking the external genital organs. This work is easy barring a few controversial incidents. However, additional investigations